Getting to know: Kiyoshi! Part #1(As well as a general overview of the Akita dog)

Due to popular demand, this will be part 1 of a multi-part series on my Akitas Kiyoshi and Keiko, this part will be focusing on my male Akita Kiyoshi. I will be covering his origins and including some media showcasing the in-progress journey we have been on and what he looked like as a pup up to what he looks like now. So grab your favorite beverage or treat(lol) as we take a trip of our own down memory lane and get to know:


Kiyoshi!(2.5 Months old here)

I bought Kiyoshi from a kennel in Michigan called Daydream Akitas, they have been in the business of breeding purebred American Standard type Akitas and have bred many AKC Champion Akitas. Kiyoshi also comes from AKC Champion stock, I personally never had interest in the show dog lifestyle and while Kiyoshi is fully AKC certified and inspected(for things like OFA Hips/Heart/Thyroid etc) he has never been shown. My goal with Kiyoshi was simply to eventually have the deep bond and companionship Akitas are known for developing within their 'pack'.

As a child I grew up with an Akita named Goliath whom I loved dearly, and it left me with the desire for another dog of the same breed someday, even though as I am sure some of you may know, an Akita can be a very challenging dog to raise and train properly, but this is something that MUST be done, you NEED to put the work in with this type of dog, they cannot be left to their own devices or by 6 months you WILL have an uncontrollable monster of a dog who has taken over you, your home, and any other people or things that may reside there. This is especially true when purchasing a dog that was not bred for temperment(like Goliath was), and was bred with premium genetics to live up to show standards(like Kiyoshi was). It is a terrible thing to see someone get a dog because "it is so cute", or "looks like a teddy bear" without making the proper preparations or doing any research only to see that dog end up at the pound 6 months later because they had no idea what they were getting into...

Let me also say though that through proper training and socialization, there is no dog in the world who will be as loyal as an Akita. I am sure many of you have heard the heartbreaking tale of Hachiko, an Akita in Japan(where Akita's are originally from) who waited at the train station every day for 9 years for his owner who had passed away to come home from work. That is what it means to be an Akita, they are dignified, honorable, and loyal to the death, natural guardians. One thing you won't ever have to train your Akita to do is guard you, your family, or your home, because they take it upon themselves to do so purely out of instinct. If you are prepared, and these are virtues you personally can identify with and appreciate, and want that in your dog, there is no better choice than the Akita.

(Kiyoshi at 3 months patiently awaits dinner time)

Living in New York and purchasing him from Michigan, Kiyoshi traveled to us by way of plane, I will never forget watching him wobble out of his crate at the airport as an 8 week old ball of fluff, timidly exploring his surroundings as me let loose a little piddle on the airport floor lol. The Delta attendant came around from the terminal counter with some paper towels as I picked him up for the first time, my Dad was with me, we headed back to the car and I let little Kiyoshi ride on my lap in the front seat to calm him down from the flight, his body was trembling so I wanted him to feel embraced to calm his nerves a bit. He fell asleep shortly after the ride started.

(nap time after a long trip!)

Akitas are a large breed, they grow pretty rapidly and love to eat as pups. After a couple short weeks he started forming into something with some actual shape to it lol :

My Dad discovered he liked coffee LOL:

Here are a couple more of those early weeks/initial month or so:

But time flies they say and never is that statement more true than when it comes to your puppy growing, soon he was starting to look like what he would eventually be, and boy did he love his walks:

And sometimes he loved them so much he didn't want to come back inside :

Let's not forget his car rides to the park(note: not dog park, Akitas are not well suited for dog parks being the alphas tht they are normally.)(Car ride is his favorite!):

Once into his 5th month of life, he blew his coat for the first time!

Akitas 'blow' their coats 2-3 times a year, it is a very "hairy" couple weeks as they shed off their under and over coats. As Winter nears, they grow out a winter coat which is very thick and longer than their normal coat, and then as spring approaches they purge it. Kiyoshi tends to blow his coat again when the really hot summer months come as well.

Well this has run a bit long and there is alot more of the journey to come as well as a ton more media, so I am going to end Kiyoshi: Part 1 here, stay tuned for Getting to know: Kiyosh! Part 2 in a day or so! Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed reading about this wonderful breed and my best K9 friend's first life experiences!

Feel free to ask any questions you might have about the breed, Kiyoshi, Myself, or anything that comes to mind and I will be sure to answer any and all queries =)

Edit: Part 2 is up! Find it here: https://steemit.com/dogs/@vazriel/getting-to-know-kiyoshi-part-2